Greenburgh, NY – Standing at the Lois Bronz Children’s Center (LBCC), U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congresswoman Nita Lowey, along with LBCC Executive Director Dr. Michael Rush, today announced their push to help low-income Westchester families access quality child care and early childhood education. Senator Gillibrand and Representative Lowey urged President Obama to protect funding levels for the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and Head Start by including at least $10.9 billion in total for the programs in his final FY 2013 budget plan, which the President is set to unveil next month. This funding level would result in an additional $36 million for New York, based on last year’s funding rates. Federal funding for these programs in FY2012 was approximately $10.3 billion. Head Start and CCDBG grants allow LBCC to serve mainly low-income families in Westchester, providing comprehensive child development programs for infants and toddlers.
Senator Gillibrand and Congresswoman Lowey wrote in their letter to President Obama, “Quality, affordable early childhood education is out of reach for many low- and moderate- income families. However, the CCDBG and Head Start serve only a small fraction of these families as resources are limited. Robust funding would expand the number of children served, ensuring that at-risk children enter kindergarten enter with tools for success. Additionally, these programs provide supports for the parents and the family as a whole… We urge you to support this vital funding in your upcoming Fiscal Year 2013 budget proposal. By investing in quality, research-based education of our children at this early entry point, we lay the foundation for future successes.”
“We believe there is a genius in every child and our aim is to discover and develop that genius which will guarantee success in kindergarten and beyond,” said Dr. Michael Rush, Executive Director of LBCC. “Early Childhood Education is critical to allow each child to reach their full potential. Our entire staff and the Board of Directors are dedicated and committed to our ‘Genius Child Project’ which puts children first. I would like to thank Senator Gillibrand and Congresswoman Lowey for their efforts in providing for Westchester families and investing in our children’s future.”
Founded in 1966 to address the growing needs for child care in Westchester, the LBCC cares for approximately 275 children annually. The Center offers various programs, including Head Start, an infant nursery, universal pre-k, a toddler and two-year old program, special-ed pre-school program, and an after school program for elementary school children. The programs are child-focused and have the goal of getting low income children ready for school.
Full text of the letter is below:
Dear Mr. President,
We appreciate the focus you have put on early childhood education during your time in office. As you decide your budget priorities for Fiscal Year 2013, we hope that you continue to strongly support funding for early childhood education, especially through the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and Head Start.
Quality, affordable early childhood education is out of reach for many low- and moderate- income families. However, the CCDBG and Head Start serve only a small fraction of these families as resources are limited. Robust funding would expand the number of children served, ensuring that at-risk children enter kindergarten with tools for success. Additionally, these programs provide support for the parents and the family as a whole.
Research has consistently shown that high quality early learning programs improve cognitive, social, emotional, and language development, which are necessary skills for life. The first five years is a period of incredible growth and development for a child. This window of opportunity demands investment in early childhood education.
We urge you to support this vital funding in your upcoming Fiscal Year 2013 budget proposal. By investing in quality, research-based education of our children, we lay the foundation for future successes.